Every year in late-May, the Lake Science team at 7 Lakes Alliance is joined by a group of summer research students from Colby College to work on research projects across the seven lakes. In addition to helping with our routine monitoring program, the students work closely with Dr. Danielle Wain, Matt Farragher, and Dr. Whitney King’s lab at Colby on individual projects investigating how lake water quality is influenced by characteristics of chemistry, biology, and physics. We’re thrilled to have another group of motivated and hard-working students working with us this summer!

Here is a brief description of what each student is working on this summer, in their own words:

Ella Novion (’28), Kansas City, KS. Biochemistry Major. “I am collecting water and sediment samples from the lakes and measuring the amount of key elements like phosphorus, aluminum, and iron.”

Maddy Tran (’28), Los Angeles, CA. Chemistry and Computer Science Majors. “I’m working on analyzing the characteristics of waves from wake boats, and working with other high-frequency buoy data.”

Sam Bunge (’27), Chicagoland, IL. Biology Major. “I am analyzing biology samples to study food web dynamics and nutrient cycling between zooplankton and phytoplankton.”

Soomin Lee (’27), Brookline, MA. Biochemistry Major. “I am investigating how the ratios of phosphorus and nitrogen contribute to the phytoplankton population in the Belgrade Lakes.”

Elisa Arteaga (’26), Houston, TX. Chemistry and Spanish Majors. “I’m working on identifying and analyzing the kinds of phosphorus in the lake water and sediment of the Belgrade Lakes!”

Cogan Lawler (’26), Boston, MA. Physics and Math Majors. “I am investigating the chemical characteristics of stream inputs around the watershed to better understand how they affect lake water quality.”

These students bring fresh energy, curiosity, and insight into our collective efforts to understand and protect the Belgrade Lakes. Their contributions not only advance the science behind 7 Lakes Alliance’s lake conservation work but also help ensure that these waters remain healthy for generations to come. As you enjoy the beauty of the Belgrade Lakes region this summer, know that a dedicated team of scientists, both seasoned and emerging alike, is working every day to keep our lakes clean and thriving.

We’re grateful for their work and invite our community to join us on July 31st at 5 p.m. at the 7 Lakes Alliance building to hear more about their scientific findings and what impact it has on informing lake science at 7 Lakes Alliance.

Event Policies

• We ask everyone attending 7 Lakes Alliance events to treat people, plants, and animals with respect.
• 7 Lakes staff may be taking pictures during this event. If you would not like to be photographed, please let staff know during the event or contact staff ahead of time.